Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-05-02
RockwAY LurHsRAN CHURCH.
Formal Organization Of ia" Ne" th"r"i
sunday Evening by Dr. n"i"iE.

Formal Organization OF ia" New Church
sunday Evening hy Dr. ii"i"iG.
Dne day last week the i.ErUBTIC gave an
account of the preliminary organization "i
a new Lutheran church at Rockway, about
three miles west of the city. Sunday night
the formal organization took place, con
Quoted by Rev. Dr. Iicwig, pastor of the
First Lutheran church. This church i the
legitimate outgrowth of the Union Sunday
school. which has been very successfully
conducted at this point for great many
years. MesSTs. f. !. Wright Samu"l
r. FAY and others. have served
the school aS superintendent in years gone
by. For the past twelve years, with the
exception of three when he was absent
from the city. Mr.. NH. Andrews has served
faithfully and successfully in that capacity.
To him is due a great deal of credit for the
very gratifying outcome Of the work there.
But he was ably assisted by teachers and
friends. 4 very neat church building,
which will cost about 81. coo when com
pleted. was begun year ago. 1t is 3'!N35
feet. with a basement and upper room. The
latter is not yet ready for use, hut the Sun
day school room has been occupied ioI some
time The basement is Of stone, while the
upper part is of frame. 4 neat SteepIe
points heaVenwaTd.
Religious services in addition to the Sun
,lay school, have been held semi-occasioil-
ally, and many have been converted, but
few of whom ever united with any church.
Observing this. Mr. Andrews and others,
thought il wise Ia have regular church or
ganiZatiOn effected, the situation
being such that the territory was
not covered by any existing organ,
iZaliOn. To this end an informal
meeting was held. at which there Were
thirty-iiye persons present, who voted their
dennminational preferences. OF these
twenty-SiX voted Ia form Lutheran
church. OF the remaining nine persons all
but two or three have since acquiesed and
united with the congregation. The strong
| Lutheran vote is accounted for by the fact
that the country round about is largely set
| tied by Mary rylanderS. who came from Luth-
| rran families. At the preliminary meeting
| Of which mention was made, the pTrlln-
| mary organization of Lutheran church
was formed with forty-nine members. NJ
| a subsequent meeting the following persons
were elected church officers:
| ElderS-N. IL. Andrews. Cornelius Mil
/ er. Martin Ietfel. Lewis iecrone. Dea
cons-Wm. H. Bitner, A. Coburn, Taylor
Seifert Joseph Beckett
| pr. Helwig conducted the services sun
! day night. There Were present also from
/ the city Prof. ). +. Breckenridge and tami
| ~. Rev. s. r. Greenwalt, of the Osborn
charge. Mr.. b. F. Furk. Mr.. VI. Il. kOut
zahn, and Others. The church~aS filled Il
overtlOwing and the exercises Were of
very beautiful and impressive nature. br
/ Helwig preached a short sermon. the pre-
C-ding records in tlir organization weT,
[ read and adopted, as well As the entire con
/ stitution of the Lutheran church. Til,
officers were then installed. after which tht
members We're received. There had beei
/ ten additional names secured since the pre-
\ limnary meeting. 50 that the church StlrteI
/ ont with 1ifty-nine charter members. q
I these thirtv-nine were received by lettel
I ard right hand of fellowship from sistel
churches. eleven by baptism AMI nine by
( confirmation. The official name "f th,
church is Rockway Union Luth
I cran church. Ia two week,
/ a meeting will be held for the election al Z
/ pastor. By that time il * expected tlit
/ projected Third Lutheran church, in thi'
I city. viii be 81 far along that arrangement,
I can be made for one pastor serving boil
churches. 1t should be mentioned that
| quite a number of other persons are con
! templating going into the new church, anC
/ il woGld not be surprising if il would mum
/ Der one hundred members before the hoIi
days. The Sunday school held its ami
| versary services in the afternoon, and II
were in attendance. Interesting addreSSe'
/ were made by Dr. Bell. who was counect, d
with the school eight years ago. Superin
/ teHdent Andrews, and others. The Schoo
] is furnishing eXceedingIy well.